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Ideazon Merc Gaming Keyboard

Introduction:

You may be able to remember the days when computerized gaming was very simplistic. Most games consisted of a two dimensional maze, a simple character, and a very finite mission objective. Game play was quite elementary. The only interface equipment you needed was a four-way directional joystick and a fire button. Since the development of the 3 dimensional graphics engine and hardware to support it, the game environment has taken on an unprecedented realism. This interface has had to incorporate much more complex functionality and allow the user lightning fast reaction. Your interface equipment now spells the difference between being on the top of the points standing with bragging rights or ending up in the mediocre middle of the road. To this end there are a number of manufacturers that continue to try to develop the ultimate gaming controller. Ideazon is one of those companies.

Ideazon’s year of inception was in 2000, and has its roots in Canada. It is a smaller specialized company that has carved out its own niche in the world of gaming peripherals. Ideazon attributes the bulk of its success to the release of the Zboard, a modular gaming keyboard. They hope to continue along this path with the debut of the Merc Gaming Keyboard, the Fang Gaming Keypad, and the Reaper Gaming Mouse.

Today I will be reviewing the Merc Gaming Keyboard, one of the newest products from Ideazon. Merc is a QWERTY style keyboard with a twist. It has an integrated, highly programmable game pad. Together with their “ZEngine” software package, Ideazon claims to have eliminated the learning curve associated with the setup and use of its gaming peripherals. Let’s continue then, to see how they did in creating the ultimate gaming keyboard.

Closer Look:

The packaging the keyboard came in is pretty typical of a keyboard box, except for a couple of things. I really liked the fiery color and the artwork on the box, very cool and I’m sure eye catching to typical gamers like myself. I was worried about the size of the box though, because I didn’t think about how wide this keyboard was and if it would fit on my keyboard drawer. A fear that was unfounded as you will see.

The contents of the package were the keyboard, an installation CD and the Merc quick start guide.

The underside of the keyboard sports 2 fold out brackets to tilt the keyboard, and rubber pads to keep the board in place during intense game play.

I did a side by side comparison with a typical 104 key US English keyboard which shows that the Merc is only about 2.5 inches longer, so I will have no problem finding room for it.